Dear John,

Our current economic and social systems are fuelling the climate crisis, while also exacerbating inequalities and facilitating exploitation of the world’s most vulnerable people. Transforming these systems to effectively slow down climate breakdown involves a lot more than just cutting carbon. 

We need systems change.

And we need to pay careful attention to the social justice and racial justice dimensions of both climate impacts and climate action. There’s lots to think about! Stop Climate Chaos member organizations have some exciting upcoming events that could help us with this thinking - and with taking action on the back of it. We’d love if you could join them John!

First up is Systems Change Week hosted by SCC member organisation, Friends of the Earth. Starting on Earth Day, 22nd April, System Change Week will feature six days of bite sized online talks on climate justice and how it connects with social justice, race, health, housing, food and the economy. There’s a choice of both lunchtime and evening talks to help accommodate busy schedules! 

Talks during System Change Week will feature inspiring activists, academics & community organisers based in Ireland and around the world. Speakers will include: 

• Yvonne O’Callaghan of SIPTU

• Myriam Douo, FoE Europe Campaigner and Climate Advisor for the Equinox, initiative for racial justice

• Memet Uludag from United Against Racism

• Fiona Dunkin from Clúid Housing, a social housing provider

• Kwami Dodzi Kpondzo, an environmental justice activist from Togo

• Annelies Schorpion, FoE Europe’s Programme Coordinator for Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity & Resource Justice

• Paul Goldrick Kelly from the Nevin Economic Research Institute

• Gabi Velasco from the Research to Action Lab at the Urban Institute

You can learn more about these speakers and the programme of events for System Change Week here. Those who register for this week of events will receive daily emails from 22nd to 29th April, outlining the talks that will take place each day - along with Zoom links to join each talk.  

Continuing on the theme of change - Cultivate, another SCC member organization, is running an exciting festival this June! “Elements of Change” is a community-led, sustainability festival celebrating culture, creativity, and climate action. It will take place on 25th and 26th June in Cloughjordan Ecovillage. The festival will focus on re-imagining our communities so that they are vibrant places to live that bring about positive change and are prepared for future challenges.

This family-friendly gathering will feature workshops and discussion on community collaboration, arts & expression, music & dance, food sovereignty, community resilience, renewable energy, climate justice, traditional crafts, open-source design, circular economy, decentralised economies and lots more!

See here to learn more about the festival, get ticketing info and find out how you can get involved. 

Hoping to see you at some of these events this spring and summer. I’m looking forward to celebrating Earth Day with System Change Week’s first event tomorrow - with so many talks to attend next week too! 

In solidarity,

Deirdre

Communications Support

Stop Climate Chaos

Stop Climate Chaos is a coalition of civil society organizations campaigning to ensure Ireland does its fair share to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change.